At the RIO+AGRO 2025 conference in Rio de Janeiro, Dr. Florian Kongoli, President of FLOGEN Stars Outreach and a renowned scientist in the field of sustainability, delivered the keynote lecture titled “The Revolutionary Role of Artificial Intelligence and Automation in Sustainable Agroeconomy.” Addressing an audience of experts and policymakers, he argued that artificial intelligence (AI) and automation—often viewed with suspicion as threats to employment or economic balance—are, in fact, powerful tools to positively transform global agriculture. According to Kongoli, these technologies enable the optimization of water, soil, and fertilizer use, the reduction of production costs, the increase of crop yields, and the improvement of human well-being by freeing people from repetitive tasks to focus on innovation and creativity.

To assess their true sustainability, Dr. Kongoli relies on his FLOGEN Sustainability Framework, a model he developed in 2015 based on three core criteria — economic development, environmental protection, and social progress — which must be fulfilled simultaneously, supported by three pillars: science and technology, governance and law, and civil society and industrial practice. This framework was officially adopted in 2024 as a constitutional law by the municipality of Nova Friburgo, Brazil, making it the first city in the world to legally require that every strategic or operational project be evaluated according to these sustainability criteria before approval.

Using historical and empirical evidence, including the example of the Green Revolution, Kongoli demonstrated that scientific and technological progress—particularly automation—has consistently allowed global food production to grow faster than the human population, disproving long-standing predictions of mass famine since Malthus. He concluded that the future of agriculture depends on the wise integration of AI as a tool capable of measuring, predicting, and optimizing every process, thus creating a sustainable, efficient, and human-centered agriculture built on knowledge, balance, and responsibility.

Palestra Principal : Florian Kongoli - Presidente da Flogen Stars Outreach.

Dr. Florian Kongoli, President of FLOGEN Stars Outreach and CEO of FLOGEN Technologies, was interviewed by journalist Mario Linhares at the Rio+Agro Podcast following his plenary lecture at Rio+Agro 2025, the major agro-industrial and sustainability event held at RioCentro, the largest exhibition center in Latin America.

In his discussion, Dr. Kongoli reflected on his long relationship with Rio de Janeiro — the city of his honorary citizenship — and praised the rapid growth of the Rio+Agro forum, now recognized as one of Latin America’s premier platforms for innovation in agriculture and sustainability.

During the interview, Dr. Kongoli highlighted the importance of integrating science and technology into sustainability, a principle he has championed for over two decades. He explained how his FLOGEN Sustainability Framework, first introduced in 2015 and later adopted as a municipal law in Nova Friburgo (Brazil), provides a universal model for evaluating whether any activity — industrial or agricultural — meets the three essential pillars of sustainability: environmental protection, economic development, and social progress.

He also discussed the key themes from his lecture, focusing on the revolutionary role of artificial intelligence and automation in agriculture, where technology can reduce environmental impact, increase productivity, and enhance quality of life when applied responsibly.

The conversation, recorded as part of the Rio+Agro Podcast series, celebrated Dr. Kongoli’s global leadership in promoting sustainability through science and technology. His ongoing commitment to bridging research, policy, and industry continues to inspire initiatives worldwide — from the SIPS Summits he organizes each year to his collaborations with governments, academia, and private enterprises.

Watch the full interview here:

PODCAST RIO+AGRO - Dia 3 - Florian Kongoli